Review of Lena Nelson Dooley's Mary's Blessing by Teresa Mathews

Mary's Blessing
By Lena Nelson Dooley
(Realms/Charisma House, 2012)


5 Stars *****

In this touching story of a beautiful young girl that has to take care of her family after their mother and older sisters have died, Lena Nelson Dooley has created a beautiful masterpiece. Mary Lenora Caine has known since a small girl she was adopted and when her mother was alive she always called Mary, “God’s blessing” but now years after her mother’s death Mary doesn’t really feel like that’s true, she feels as though no one cares about her at all. Even her father has been almost a stranger to her and her siblings since her mother died, leaving Mary to take care of her sister and brothers by herself. Feeling that no one cares anything about her, Mary starts to wonder about her birth parents and why they didn’t love her enough to keep her. Will she ever find the answers she seeks about her birth? Will anyone be able to convince Mary she is a beautiful young woman worthy of love?  

Daniel Winthrop, a friend from childhood who has loved Mary for what seems like forever, has dreamed about the day he would ask Mary to be his wife. He knows how hard she works taking care of her family and he wants to make her life easier. Having received Mary’s father’s permission to court her, Daniel believes his dreams are finally going to come true, but when a tragedy strikes Mary’s family will he be able to stand by Mary? Or will Daniel do the unthinkable and leave her just when she needs him the most?

In this story Lena has painted a picture of what sometimes was typical life in the late 1800’s, especially the in lives of the people who paved the way on the Oregon Trail. I loved how this story pulled at my heart and how I couldn’t wait to see how it ended for Mary. I can hardly wait to read the third book in this McKenna’s Daughters Series, Catherine’s Pursuit to see how the mystery behind Mary’s birth turns out.

Lena Nelson Dooley's books are available through CBD, Christian book stores, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

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